"Stop where you are, or I'll shoot you!" called out Snap, who had brought his shotgun along.
"Don't shoot! Don't shoot!" yelled the tramp, in wild alarm.
"Then stop," went on Snap.
The tramp skated a few strokes more and then halted. Soon the three boys swept up to him.
"Don't shoot!" cried Kiddy Leech again. "It's—er—all a mistake.
I—er—I didn't mean any harm."
"You didn't?" said Snap, indignantly. "No harm to steal our things? You're a rascal if ever there was one. We ought to hand you over to the authorities."
"No! no. I—er—I wasn't stealing anything. It's all a joke. I was coming back. I thought I'd scare you a little, that's all."
"Hand over that game-bag," said Shep.
"And that storm-coat," said Giant.
"And my skates," put in Snap. "And all the other things you took. And be quick about it, too."